Sunday, July 26, 2015

Indications are that any effort to remove fluoride from the city’s drinking
water would not be supported by a majority of Martinsville City Council
members.

Two members say they definitely would not be supportive, and another is
leaning that way.

The issue is not on the printed agenda for the council meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday. However, Councilwoman Sharon Brooks Hodge has said that if no one else
does, she will make a motion during the meeting to discontinue adding fluoride
to water.

In January, the council unofficially decided to continue fluoridating water
after it took no action on a resident’s request that the city end the
practice.

At meetings since then, the panel has heard from numerous people on both
sides of the issue. Some touted the potential benefits of fluoride in preventing
tooth decay and dental diseases. Others voiced opposition along lines such as
that exposure to too much fluoride could lead to health problems, including
brain disorders.

Hodge did not return a phone call for comment. However, she recently said
she is concerned about whether government has the right to force something that
might be unsafe on the public.

She said at that time, though, that she was not questioning the benefits of
fluoridating water.

Mayor Danny Turner and Councilman Gene Teague said Friday that if a motion
is made Tuesday night to discontinue fluoridation, they will not support it.
They cited studies showing that fluoride is beneficial.

Adding fluoride to water is “a very cheap way to help people” maintain good
dental health, especially when compared to costs for correcting dental problems
such as cavities, Turner said.

Teague made a similar comment.

“I believe it’s the right thing to do,” he said, because most scientific
studies he has seen show that adding fluoride to water generally is safe.

Councilman Mark Stroud declined to say how he would vote if the issue were
raised.

“I don’t think it’s fair” to announce how he will vote on issues before
votes are taken because “there can always be some information that comes up from
some source … at the 12th hour that could” change his opinion, he said.

Vice Mayor Jennifer Bowles, who at the July 14 council meeting suggested
that a vote be taken on the issue at Tuesday night’s meeting, said she has not
yet officially decided how she will vote.

She indicated, though, that she is leaning toward not supporting a motion
to end fluoridation.

“I’ve received a lot of input from citizens saying they would prefer to
keep fluoride in” the water, Bowles said.

She added that while her job as a council member is “to make informed
decisions on issues,” she also is obliged to represent the public and vote
according to its wishes.

Council members said they individually have received as many as perhaps 50
communications – including phone calls, text and email messages and letters –
from people on the issue. Most favor continuing fluoridation, they said.

Teague said he thinks that if most city residents did not want fluoridated
water, the majority of opinions council members have heard would be against the
practice.